Jamming with JAMO?


I’ve recently heard some very different sounding, looking and operating speakers with respect to my standard cone & dome speaker history.

I like the cone & dome speakers as they seem to be able to introduce a greater impact or emphasis to the leading edge of the notes, and provide a more visceral feeling of the music itself as they appear to excite and pressurize the air in the room extraordinarily well. More jump. Slam. More bump and emotion.

These latest new designs, quite foreign to my past exp have some outstanding characteristics.

Of these were some ‘di pole ’ speakers… Scandinavian I think, and made by JAMO. The Ref 909, to be specific.

Their esthetic as well is exceptional. Natrually, the R-909 is too much for my room, but the 907… hmmmm… maybe.

Who else makes similar speakers to the JAMO 909… 907… etc.?

They come off sounding like what I’ve heard from some Panels , yet with more authority, more lifelike impact and wallop. Especially in the lower realms. The bottom end of the R909 in a quite large and open room was substantial and actually over the top till they were moved yet further into the room off their front wall. I was and still am quite impressed…. This is no easy feat either. I’ve become more cynical and maybe a bit jaded as time has passed on with regard to astonishing sonic reproduction.

In truth I think I’ve actually become more excited about audio as the result having experienced what these odd looking but impressive units can do with typical equipment. I’ve stumbled onto a direction I could enjoy for a very, very, long time… I suspect.

The only caveat or stumbling block I can forsee here is of course, the R907 pricepoint. The price my friend got his 909s for well... who wouldn't have boght them is all I can say. I'll p[robably not be as lucky.

Any info on this type of speaker production and who are making them would be immensely appreciated.
blindjim
Thanks.. I'm open to looking at or considering any brands/models which emulate the design & tech of the JAMO Ref line.

They look great and so far sound great, IMHO! Just a mite pricey for me at the moment.

I'll look into Gradient too. Appreciate it a lot.
I have the heard a friend’s Jamo R909 many times. They are one of the most impressive speakers I have ever heard. Their most significant strength compared to most planar and box loudspeakers is a very articulate and fast bass – in side by side comparisons most typical box loudspeaker bass is indistinct. The R909 also has a neutral tonal balance with tremendous detail. An additional strength compared to typical box loudspeakers is soundstage depth in addition to good lateral imaging. The only relative minor weakness is the occasional edge in upper midrange – I think due to an artifact of the midrange driver.
Also I was fortunate to briefly compare the R907 to R909 – the R907 gives up surprisingly minimal bass depth compared to R909, midrange is similar, but the R909 is a bit fuller in bass and cleaner in treble – I think it is worth the additional cost.
While I like the striking design of the R909 loudspeaker, I do vastly prefer the look of my B&W 803D. However, if I had a dedicated listening room where I had flexibility to position speakers where I like - my top current favourite speakers are the R909 and B&W800D.

Mark_nz

Very nice contribution... thanks much.

I would tend to agree with your assessment of the bass response of the JAMO R909 speakers in comparison to other designs. The bottom end certainly was striking, and prominent, until more distance between them and the front wall was had. Still, the lower end was quick and added a better blend to the music. In all, I can see how as the Stereophile Review on the ‘07s pointed out, an abundance instead of just ample supplies of power would show the more positive results.

I’ve often found any edgyness in the upper midrange of loudspeakers a problem outside of them… usually. Definitely on the level of performance the upper end JAMO units have so far demonstrated to me. I could be wrong but past exp has shown me quite often, that harshness, or bite there comes from power issues elsewhere… ground loops… source… conditioning problems, perhaps even a throttling down of power, or some lack of power at that freq range… maybe even a impedance issue/mismatch upstream.

Maybe such an instance occurs only when pushing them hard, but I heard nothing errant during my listening… I’m sure I’ll hear them again, and be more careful during that occasion.

My only concern is how much immediacy … presence… or “They are here” can the JAMOs exhibit? That would be the sailient point for me. I do so dig thinking about reaching for my virtual autograph pad while I’m listening to good recordings..

Thanks much for all of those highlights and especially those comparing the 907 & 909. Sadly, unless some great fortune smiles on me, the 09s are "...the stuff that dreams are made of" rather than "the stuff that sits in my listening room". The 907s? Well, .... maybe.

I have a dedicated room, but it is at best medium size, being roughly 14 x 20 x 8.25. the speakers sit on the short wall. The R-909s sure look great too in that glossy black. Well, from the front… their backsides are a bit weird though. This design allows for closer placement to the side walls as well, and in my case that would be a plus.

Did you note as did the reviewer, keeping the grills on lent itself to a better listening event? Such is not often the case but I have heard of some units which actually sound better with the grills on. I did not recall much of a diff one way or the other, although my session was not an extended one, but I did use very familiar tunes.
consider 'ohm'....different approach, viseral, and balanced as all get out...more affordable. a history.

Jaybo

thanks much... I was wondering if anyone would post them into this thread as a likewise speaker choice to the dipole design.

BTW... folks... DIY speakers probably are not going to be my particular spread.... well, not any more.
More to discover